USDA Orange Crop Forecast Holds Steady

The Valencia variety remained at 71 million while early-mid varieties stayed at 67 million boxes.

The USDA makes its initial estimate in October of each year and revises it monthly as the crop takes shape until the end of the season in July. The USDA’s October orange estimate was 154 million boxes.

The 2012-2013 Florida grapefruit estimate increased from 17 million boxes to 18.3 million boxes. Tangerines inched lower to 3.4 million boxes from 3.5 million boxes while tangelos stayed at 1 million boxes. The yield for from concentrate orange juice (FCOJ) decreased slightly to 1.60 gallons per 90-pound box.